Botnia Paradise
Botnia Paradise premiered in 2021 and was KAJ’s second musical at Wasa Teater. Following the huge success of Gambämark – which is featured later in this exhibition – there was a clear demand for more. KAJ had an idea for a musical set on Botnia Paradise, the cheapest cruise ship on the Baltic Sea, and that became the starting point for their new show.
Most people in the Nordic countries have some kind of connection to the cruise ships sailing between Sweden and Finland – and the things that happen onboard – so the sense of recognition was strong from the very beginning. Combined with KAJ’s outstanding characters and phenomenal songs, Botnia Paradise became a hit.
The musical also broke Wasa Teater’s all-time audience record with 27,500 visitors – an extraordinary feat, especially considering it happened in the middle of the pandemic.
#KAJWASHERE #WASATEATER
About the Show
In the musical Botnia Paradise (now available on Yle Arena), the audience gets to follow the crew and passengers of a cruise ship over the course of one summer. At the heart of the story are friends Dan-Ole and Bertel, who are on a party cruise, and the ship’s new Junior Entertainer, Benjamin, who dreams of making it big as an artist in Sweden.
As is often the case in musicals, things don’t quite go as planned. Benjamin’s dream of stardom is put on hold when he’s assigned to work as the ship’s mascot – Svante the Swan. Bertel must confront a secret he’s been hiding, and Dan-Ole is forced to spread his wings on the dance floor.
Synopsis
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Act 1
- The cruise ship Botnia Paradise sets the stage for a summery story, narrated by the ship’s troubadour. Prompted by an overly eager bar patron who insists he stop playing Creedence and tell a story instead, the troubadour begins to weave the tale.
- At the center of the story are the passengers Bertel (a married gambling addict), Dan-Ole (a bachelor), and the ship’s new Junior Entertainer, Benjamin, who dreams of becoming a famous artist in Sweden.
- Instead of performing, Benjamin is given the job of mascot. He meets Julia, a jack-of-all-trades who dreams of becoming a ship captain. The two quickly form a bond. Dan-Ole meets Eva-Lisa at the bar, while Bertel encounters a leather-clad biker named Tuplajuusto – a meeting that threatens his vow to stay away from gambling.
- Captain Koskiniemi and the ship’s cruise hostess Sinikka are secretly skimming goods and cutting safety measures to fund theme weeks and lavish parties.
- When Dan-Ole believes he’s lost Eva-Lisa to a smooth-talking dancer, he decides – with some encouragement from Bertel and Tuplajuusto – to win her back. His grouse dance soon becomes legendary.
- With Julia’s support, Benjamin finally gets to perform – this time alongside his idol Linda Q, who’s headlining a schlager show on the ship. It’s his first real step toward making his dream come true.
- The cruise ship Botnia Paradise sets the stage for a summery story, narrated by the ship’s troubadour. Prompted by an overly eager bar patron who insists he stop playing Creedence and tell a story instead, the troubadour begins to weave the tale.
-
Act 2
- The ship sets sail again after Captain Koskiniemi’s wild company party. Bertel and Dan-Ole reminisce about a near-romantic encounter in the hot tub – which turns out to be leaking.
- Dan-Ole and Eva-Lisa plan a date after a sunrise meeting on deck. Meanwhile, Bertel ends up in the casino with Tuplajuusto, where they cheat together – but Sinikka has rigged the roulette table, and Bertel loses €10,000, enraging Tuplajuusto.
- Benjamin is offered a spot in Melodifestivalen but hesitates – accepting it would mean leaving Julia and the ship.
- Dan-Ole waits for Bertel in the duty-free shop and calls Bertel’s wife, Helen, only to learn they’re already divorced. During his date with Eva-Lisa, Tuplajuusto barges in, demanding that Dan-Ole repay Bertel’s debt. But Eva-Lisa manages to trick him.
- A violent storm hits the ship. Captain Koskiniemi panics, but Sinikka manages to encourage him to take command. Julia climbs the mast to restart the transmitter, and Benjamin follows.
- Dan-Ole finds Bertel in a flooded drunk tank, while Linda Q sings dramatically at the railing. Eva-Lisa rescues Tuplajuusto from falling overboard.
- Julia and Benjamin repair the ferry’s transponder but lose their grip and fall toward certain death. Dan-Ole and Bertel manage to save them at the last moment using stretched-out silage plastic.
- As the coast guard arrives, Benjamin, Julia, Bertel, and Dan-Ole sit on deck, catching their breath. Benjamin reveals he’s turning down Melodifestivalen to stay with Julia – but she shares that she’s been accepted to a marine training program in England. They realize they must follow their dreams.
- Bertel and Dan-Ole have an honest talk about the divorce. Julia and Benjamin decide to leave the ship and pursue their careers.
- Back in the bar, the pushy old man complains about the sad ending – but the troubadour reveals that Benjamin eventually became the ship’s resident troubadour after his music career, and Julia is now the captain. They are happy and reunited – the story has come full circle. They’ve found their place in life.
- The ship sets sail again after Captain Koskiniemi’s wild company party. Bertel and Dan-Ole reminisce about a near-romantic encounter in the hot tub – which turns out to be leaking.
The Svante Club
The costume for the mascot Svante the Swan is a perfect example of the kind of creative and quirky projects that come to life in a theatre. The suit was made from superlon (mattress foam from Esma) and a pool noodle to shape the neck. To make the costume wearable, a boxing helmet was integrated to support the neck, and the actor’s feet were hidden inside custom-made flippers.
Jakob Norrgård, who played Botnia Paradise’s Junior Entertainer Benjamin, needed a special towel for foot sweat – otherwise it was nearly impossible to get the shoes on. Svante also came with special effects: he could lay golden eggs through a cloaca that could even fit a champagne bottle.
Also hanging to dry are the specially sewn underpants from the pool scene, where cruise passengers Bertel (Axel Åhman) and Dan-Ole (Kevin Holmström) take a dip in the algae-infested Botnia Spa & Wellness – a typical detail in KAJ’s humor universe.
#TIP Don’t forget to grab an egg hunt coupon. If you find all the eggs Svante has hidden throughout the exhibition, you’ll get a small prize to take home. And while you’re here – why not become Svante for a second? Or even Captain Koskiniemi?
Quick Changes & Crew Uniforms
On Botnia Paradise, the washed-up schlager diva Linda Q entertained the guests – a glamorous but demanding artist with limited self-awareness. Her musical numbers involved quick costume changes on stage, requiring careful planning and rehearsals. One example is a jacket that rips open, with small snaps making the switch smooth. Another involves a sparkling gem that triggers a dramatic dress drop.
#TIP Don’t miss the video of May Schjörlien performing the hit song Beverly Hills. Could KAJ have entered Melodifestivalen back in 2021 with Linda? You’re welcome to try on the outfits hanging to the left of the mirror in Linda’s dressing room – and snap a photo while you’re there.
The crew uniforms were partly made by modifying purchased blazers. The model was so small that the largest actor’s custom blazer had to be made from three stitched-together versions. To avoid shoulder pads interfering with the choreography, his sleeves were sewn in stretch fabric. Up close, you can see the color difference – but on stage, it worked like a charm.
Ugly Clothes and a Demanding Casino
When Kevin Holmström played Dan-Ole in Botnia Paradise, his costume needed to look worn-out and outdated. The sweater, knitted by artisan Mia Salminen, was commissioned with very specific instructions: it had to be both ugly and poorly made – a real challenge for a skilled craftsperson! Sometimes, it takes real talent to make something look messy on purpose.
#TIP Don’t miss the miniature model of Botnia Paradise, created by set designer Mia-Irene Sundqvist. These scale models are essential tools for the production team, helping to visualize size, depth, and how every part fits on and off the stage. While many designers now use 3D digital models, physical miniatures are still built for many productions.
The set design for Botnia Paradise reflects a typical cruise ship, complete with a dance floor, wood paneling, and rolling set pieces to represent different locations. One standout element was the casino, featuring a slot machine that always had to land on the same result – a technically demanding build.
How many times can you spot the Botnia Paradise pattern in the exhibition?
Möjligheter Opportunities Create Phenomena
Next to the entrance to Gambämark, a video interview plays in which the members of KAJ reflect on dreams – dreams they've had, and how dreams can become reality. It’s easy to get swept up in trends, but one of the key reasons we at Wasa Teater created this exhibition was to highlight what can happen when young people are given the opportunity to engage with art and culture as they grow up.
The KAJ phenomenon didn’t appear overnight. All three members were deeply involved in both music and amateur theatre during their childhood and teenage years – and, just as importantly, they were able to do so right in their hometown.
Production Team, actors & musicians
Varje Every theatre production has an artistic team that envisions and plans how the entire performance should come together. This work is led by the director – for Botnia Paradise, that was Ida Kronholm. She was an excellent choice, having grown up on the Åland Islands and spent much of her youth aboard the ferries between Åland and the mainland.
The rest of the creative team included:
Costume Design: Linn Wara
Set Design: Mia-Irene Sundqvist
Choreography: Ida Holmlund
Makeup and Wigs: Fia Derghokasian
Lighting Design: Kristoffer Svenn
Sound Design: Dennis Lindén
Music Producer: Janne Hyöty
Music Director: Ralf Nyqvist
Actors
Johan Aspelin, Jonas Bergqvist, Markus Lytts, Tove Qvickström, Carola Sarén
Gästande skådespelare: Kevin Holmström, Matilda Kruse, Jakob Norrgård, May Schjörlien, Axel Åhman
Orchestra
Music Director Ralf Nyqvist, Peter Enroth, Patrick Lax , Stefan Lindblom, Robin Käldström